Dementia is detailed by the Alzheimer’s Association as a general term for loss of memory, language, problem,-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.
Symptoms usually become worse over time, and in the later stages of dementia, people are not able to care for themselves and may lose the ability to communicate.
Dementia is often described as a devastating disease as when someone close to you has dementia you may experience a sense of loss even before they die.
There’s currently no cure, but many experts are putting their efforts into promoting ways the disease can be prevented.
Dr Alexis Missick, of UK Meds, said exercise is one of the key ways to prevent dementia.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 28 percent, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Dr Missick specified specific exercises that may be most effective. She said: “Doing a combination of strength-building exercises and aerobic exercises will help to reduce the risk of dementia.
“Strength-building exercises include yoga and pilates, lifting weights or heavier objects at home or using resistance bands and some gardening activities such as digging.
“Aerobic exercises include walking briskly or hiking, swimming and jogging.”
And there are sports/exercises that combine both strength-building and aerobic exercises.
Dr Missick added: “Dancing, running, walking up stairs or a hill and sports such as football, netball and basketball are all both strength-building and aerobic exercises.”